Mumbai: Yashoda Medicity, one of the leading hospitals in Delhi NCR, has launched a public awareness campaign titled #AMatchThatSavesLives, aimed at educating communities about stem cell donation and the life-saving role of a simple buccal swab test. Conducted in collaboration with DATRI Stem Cell Donation Registry and Gennova Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., the initiative saw strong participation from nearby residential societies, signalling rising public awareness while underscoring the urgent need to expand India’s stem cell donor registry.
The campaign addresses a stark medical reality. For patients battling life-threatening conditions such as leukaemia, lymphoma, thalassemia, and other severe blood disorders, a bone marrow transplant is often the only curative option. However, more than 70 per cent of patients are unable to find a compatible donor within their families. The probability of identifying a matched unrelated donor remains as low as 1 in 10,000 due to the need for closely aligned Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) markers, leaving a critical gap between patients and potential donors.
Aligned with this need, the campaign focused on educating the public about how the journey to saving a life can begin with a simple buccal swab test — a safe, quick, and non-invasive procedure. The initiative also worked to dispel common misconceptions surrounding stem cell donation and encourage informed participation.
Awareness booths were set up at Yashoda Medicity, Indirapuram, and Yashoda Super Speciality Hospital, Kaushambi. Visitors registered as stem cell donors, submitted buccal swab samples, and interacted with medical teams to better understand how a single decision could potentially save a life in the future.
The on-ground activation was complemented by health talks and panel discussions featuring Ms. Shobha Tuli, Secretary, Thalassemics India and Secretary, Thalassaemia International Federation, Ms. Bindiya Sawheny, North India Head, DATRI, along with other leading voices from healthcare and public health advocacy. These sessions highlighted the importance of strengthening India’s stem cell donor ecosystem, improving timely donor matches, and sustaining long-term awareness efforts.
Adding a personal dimension to the initiative, patient stories shared under the campaign #BMTKiKahaniSurvivorKiZubani showcased the transformative impact of stem cell donation and the life-changing outcomes made possible through donor participation.
Dr. P. N. Arora, Chairman and Managing Director, Yashoda Group of Hospitals, added, “Creating awareness about stem cell donation is a responsibility we all share. This Campaign underscores our commitment to advancing medical excellence while actively contributing to public health.”
Dr. Nivedita Dhingra, Director & Head – Haematology, Hemato-Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant, said, “Every registered donor brings patients one step closer to finding a compatible match, which can be critical for treatment success. Campaigns like ‘A Match That Saves Lives’ make stem cell donation accessible, educate the community about the process, and turn awareness into actionable steps that can directly save lives.”
With #AMatchThatSavesLives, Yashoda Medicity reinforces its commitment to public health engagement and its vision of delivering patient-centred care that extends beyond hospital walls.
